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Frank Leboeuf

Frank Leboeuf has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea, claiming they are a team in decline and have no chance of winning the title this season.

Leboeuf, who played for Chelsea between 1996-2001, feels the club are paying the price for not making enough changes to their squad in recent seasons and are now past their peak.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have picked up just six points from their last seven League games, scoring just four goals.

The woeful form has seen them drop from top spot to fourth in the table and they face a huge match against new leaders Manchester United on Sunday before playing second-placed Arsenal on 27 December.

Ancelotti and his players confidently claimed that the 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Sunday was a strong sign that their campaign was about to turn around.

But Leboeuf said: "I don't agree that this is the turning point for their season. It is hard for me to criticise my former club but I said at the beginning of the season that I didn't think they would be winning the championship.

"I love them but I really feel they are at the end of the cycle. When I saw them flying at the top, I wondered if I knew anything about football any more but now we are seeing the truth and reality of that club and those players.

"They need to do something at the end of the season where they will need to sell and buy players. Of course, they didn't have a bad game against Spurs but one or two years ago that match would have been won by Chelsea.

"I don't know why Didier Drogba didn't play from the beginning but I was pleased to see Frank Lampard coming back. But I really feel Chelsea is not Chelsea any more. I am sad about that. We need a new Chelsea for next season."

Boss Ancelotti is under increasing pressure, despite owner Roman Abramovich last week promising the Italian he still had his full support.

Abramovich has promised that he will fund the signing of new players when the transfer window opens next month but it is notoriously difficult to purchase genuine quality at this stage of the season.

Speculation over Ancelotti's future continues amid reports that the players fear the 51-year-old has already decided to quit at the end of the season, while Roma are looking at him as a possible replacement for former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri next summer.

The next two matches could prove vital and Leboeuf argues the Stamford Bridge club need a minimum of four points just to stay in contention. He added on ESPN: "I hope I will be wrong. The vertical column of John Terry, Michael Essien, Lampard and Drogba are back and that's important but it will be a tough game against United.

"They have to win and then at least draw against Arsenal if they want to keep surviving in the competition. The positive thing I can say about Chelsea is that they haven't had any luck."

Lampard, who has returned after nearly four months out with a groin and hernia problem, is still adamant that the team's dip is temporary. He said: "Every season you have patches and ups and downs and hopefully this is one to get out the way early and refocus."